RIOT OF CHERRY BLOSSOMS...

After so much anticipation, the day of our trip to South Korea, a trip for the reigning Unduk Ngadau Ms Cheryl Lynn and which my team and I had planned since last year, finally arrived. We've been warned of the Spring's still chilly and unpredictable weather in Seoul with temperature of 16'c daytime but would suddenly plummet to 4'c anytime in the day.  Used to hot and humid weather, we therefore came prepared with our boots, shawl and light jacket.

Our 8 days, from 11th to 19th April 2015 in South Korea soon passed quickly taking with us beautiful memories, lots of photographs and burning a big hole in our pockets. Shopping in Seoul is expensive especially as our Ringgit has fallen bad recently. However, our resolutions of  not going to buy anything flew out of the window when we saw lots of nice things.  If you, like me, who love cosmetics, skin care and clothes, bags or shoes, go shop at Myeongdong and Dongdaemun in Seoul. You will be spoilt for choice and can't help but buy as some come in good bargains!  My friends and I, we went a little crazy and the 2 hours that our tour guide gave us felt like 30 minutes.  2 hours, where got enough ohh...Lol! 

We demanded we return there for more shopping the following day...haha... During the last day when we started packing for home, I found myself with 4 handbags, a pair of boots, a pair of sandals, oh and some cloths and some small souvenirs and horrors, could not fit into my luggage! Well, nothing like an extra luggage cannot solve.  Ok, ok, only 2 of the handbags are mine  haha.. sounds extravagant but really mine is nothing compared to some of my friends.

Cheryl with a dashing 'Korean Movie Star' :)

Cheryl, looking like a Korean movie star ..:)

Beautiful Korean ladies at the Festival of Cherry BlossomsYeouido Park, Seoul.

Korean ladies are known for their fair and flawless skin  - no heavy makeup, no photoshop, and these no plastic surgeries.  

What would a visit to Korea be if one does not buy kimchi and ginseng. Though kimchi is readily available in our local stores.  Why ginseng? Well our tour guide said that Koreans who are known for their fair and flawless complexion attribute it to them taking ginseng since young. Ginseng, he said is used for improving overall health, strengthen the immune system and help fight off stress and diseases. The problem, he said is that by taking ginseng, Koreans do not get old, therefore never die! Unless they get run over by a bus.... hahaha.. very funny.

Cheryl at the set of the famous Korean tv series, Winter Sonata

But we did not only shop. We visited museums, old palaces, went up Mt Sorak, visited Nami Island and lots more.  But the most memorable one must be our walkabout joining in the thousands of Koreans who came in hordes at Yeouido Park. It was the Festival of spring cherry blossoms!

Koreans celebrates the Cherry Blossoms Festival to celebrate the precious few days each spring when the thousands of cherry trees especially in Yeouido Park erupt into clouds of pink and white.Our guide told us that it is almost always in the second week of April where the trees's buds inevitably burst and there seems to be riot of spring's spectacular blossoms each tree seemingly in competition with each other of which tree gives a more beautiful blossoms! A really treat for us for after the 2nd day, it rained and the flowers dropped like raindrops creating a carpet of white under each tree leaving the trees bare.  Not all the trees dropped their flowers though as cherry blossoms are planted all over the streets of Seoul but still not as beautiful as the first day when we arrived...

 Kimchi, served to us in one of our meals. Kimchi is served at every meal.

 Street food . giant squids

the one in the big pot is like 'siput sedut' except they are white in colour. No did not try. I am

not that adventurous where food is concerned.

  

We also did our Sunday obligation at St Andrew's, a Catholic Church, Seoul. The Sunday Mass was conducted in English. We met lots of fellow countrymen there..

WANTING - EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD and SUNSETS IN TANJUNG ARU

I just discovered this amazing song and singer, Wanting.. Many thanks to a good faraway friend for sharing..  The words are so meaningful and made me WANTING more.. 

Let's listen...

And it has been mentioned that Kota Kinabalu is one of the best place to see glorious sunsets.. here are some taken, some with just my handphone and digital camera..

.... “Sunsets, like childhood, are viewed with wonder not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting.” 

"At sunset, nature is painting for us ... a day after day... pictures of infinite beauty..."

A CELEBRATION, 3D PAINTINGS AND SUNSETS

It was a beautiful celebration.. the birthday and engagement of  my friend Jo's eldest daughter, Ava.

Too bad I did not bring my DSLR cam.. :(

Some photos taken with my digital camera.

The new in thing - 3D paintings.

This beautiful 3D painting was painted on a wall of Jo's beautiful house.

Jo's house is near a beach ... and so, she's got the best of both views, sunrise and the mountains on the east and on the west, the sea and beautiful sunsets... 

                                                                              ..taking his family for a ride..

..the airport is about 5km away, so a plane every few minutes...

WISHING ONE AND ALL A VERY HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR..

 Gong Xi Fa Cai, Xi Nian Kuai Le

from 

Pic above show us with our signed Declaration to pledge our full commitment towards the
Unduk Ngadau activities. This is a voluntary job and we not only organize the annual State Level Unduk  Ngadau pageant and promote  KadazanDusun culture but we also conduct fund raising for the less fortunate.
 This year the Charity Dinner "Sodop Unduk Ngadau" will be held on 29th May 2015 and we hope to raise enough funds to enable us to assist St Pius Children's Orphanage, Bundu Tuhan, Ranau in their day to day expenses and also the repairs of their dilapidated  building.

The unique thing about the native of Sabah is that many in one way other possess some Chinese blood. Most of my friends in the picture for example even though on official documents, they are Kadazans are infact not pure Kadazans due to parent's inter-marriages especially those in urban areas.

 My friend Mart, (standing 2nd from left) has a Chinese grandfather with a surname Lee, Lyn (standing 4th from left) with surname Wong, Teri seated extreme left,  maternal grandfather is a Chuan and Phil whose father is mixed Chinese, surnamed Chai.

 My hubby whose birth cert says he is Kadazan but actually come from the lineage of the Wong Loong Clan, his father side.  His maternal grandfather on the other hand is pure Chinese, a skilled carpenter who came from the mainland China with his parents when he was a young boy surnamed Chong. He married a local Kadazan lady and adopted most of the Kadazans way of life.  Hence, the reasons why most Kadazans are fair skinned with Chinese features and people can be forgiven for mistaking them for Chinese. All my children, 2 beautiful girls and my handsome son... hehehe....took after their father whose features are more Chinese, the classic fair skin and almond shaped eyes.

the eldest (right) and youngest on the left

Do we celebrate Chinese New Year? Oh yes in a way we do, but now only just a small new year eve dinner as my son is living abroad, my eldest daughter residing in KL which left my youngest.  Unlike those days when my parent in laws were still around,.....  I miss them.

Be safe this holidays folks.
..

ROSES HAVE THORNS...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

 "Even if sometimes love is full of thorns, embrace it for in between those thorns, there is a rose that's worth all the pain"

I went a little crazy a couple of weeks back and decided to chop off my tresses... 
my latest pics, taken last nite when we took a friend (in black tank top) for dinner. She is on a visit from Kiwi land. (sorry for poor quality of pics.. taken with a hand phone cam in a poorly lighted restaurant.)

MATURED LADIES ALL IN A ROW..AND SWEET YOUNG THINGS.

.. my buddies and I in our 'Corporate Uniform'.  No spring chickens but certainly passionate at what we do for our Culture and Association.  After months of 'rest', soon it will be the time again and these ladies will once again be as busy as a bee..(another 5 ladies not in pic).  Waay to go ladies.. looking forward to be working with you all again..

..in search of the most beautiful Kadazan maiden..

Reigning Unduk Ngadau Miss Cheryl Lynn (with crown),  UNK Chairperson (4th from right) and some of the finalists 2014  during a courtesy visit to the wife of Sabah Governor and at the Palace in July.

Cheryl Lynn (left) and Megan (1st runner up) at a dinner..

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR. THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF IT..

I guess it is still not too late to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year 2015.  

2014 has just ended. Was it a good year for me? Like every year, there are fair shares of good and bad. Some days are just great and things go as planned and then there are days when I do not feel motivated at all.  Days when even the brightest day seems to let my best laid plans go out of the window before the day has barely begun.  

I usually get by, when things go wrong, I try to find something or several things to feel grateful for and to always remember that things that happen not within our control always happens for a reason.  And always, even if things look tough today or for the next few months,  something always comes up to make me grateful for what had happened.  God is great all the time!  

Gratitude, that feeling of thankfulness depends on how one perceives each situation.  So I try to be grateful for every little things, the fundamental things in every day life, even the most mundane of things, from having good internet connection, smiles from friends, the not so great dessert of chocolate fudge that I made last night, to bright sunny days. I am even thankful for the weighing machine which showed I have gained some kgs.... no that's no good but I won't let than dampen my spirit. haha. I am glad I am in a pink of health and I can always burn those extra calories with a few rounds in the park.  

That and lots more to be thankful for and if I were to make a list, I would be here till Christmas!  

And what about new year's resolutions? Well, like every year, I've got some only to break them.  Will try harder this year.. one of which is to trim away unnecessary drama in my life.

My recent trip to the beautiful Puerto Princesa..

Bali

Have a great year everyone!

Quote of the Day:

Maturity...
“Maturity is the ability to think, speak and act your feelings within the bounds of dignity.”

― Samuel Ullman